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The Isometric Collaboration idea was first introduced to the Mario Fan Games Galaxy Forums in May 2006 by SNF. Members could reserve up to 3 squares at any given time on an isometric grid created by one member. The eventual goal was to fill the entire three-dimensional array to create a single largescale pixelart image. The first collaboration, which didn't ever get completed, was pretty much random and unorganized. After that, each Collaboration was given a general theme which all participants had to work with, such as a single game from the Super Mario series. In such a case, the tiles could only use the palette from that particular game.

Collab #1: Super Mario Brothers 3

Beginnings and so forth

The first project's outline

The idea of having a theme was thought up by SNF who completely stopped work on the first attempt to start another more organized one. This resulted in much more participation and interest. It used a layout borrowed from another website. It was started on May 6, 2006.
When it started it appeared SNF would handle updating the overall grid and color matching. However soon Artee took over for several days. Later, Mario Gamer took over for Artee and continued the task of updating the main page for the rest of the project. It was finally finished on May 16th, ten days after production started.

Problems

One of the main problems was keeping the palette correct. Due to some using Internet Explorer the image darkened thus screwing up every tile. However the effects often didn't appear until one was done with their tile. This was solved by Artee recoloring the incorrect squares.

Another problem occurred when SonicProject claimed a square that had already been taken. However , he made his tile before checking the topic again which then led to an argument. SNF and Artee both could not find a place for his tile since it had no blending on it and looked out of place. The issue was finally solved three days later, when a border was added to it. The controversial tile currently sits in spot #9.

Staggy11 actually did 107, 108 and 109. But he pulled them off himself later feeling they did nothing for the collaboration.

There are nine Marios, and four Luigis. While only one Princess and one Toad.

Collab #2: Super Mario World

Slow beginnings

The second project's outline

After a poll was held Super Mario World was chosen as the next theme for the new Iso Collab. However a new layout had to be made since another one could not be found where the first one was. Banana Head was the creator of the winning design. Production soon started on May 20th, 2006.
Mario Gamer continued as "Project Manager", though quitting for a short period of time. He later rejoined when the idea of matching palettes at the end was thought of by Black Squirrel.

The collab was finally finished on July 17th, 2006, just three days shy of two months and 6 times longer then the first one. A vote was held and Super Mario RPG was decided as the next theme.

Problems

The main problem of this collab is empty space. Many sides and mountain only have the basic background of Mario World and nothing interesting. The main reason is probably the theme of Mario World isn't as broad as Super Mario Bros 3.

There are two spaces with the number 21 on the map.

Another problem that has come up was when SonicProject's tile was not added for being flat and not in the correct palette. After it was decided that there would not be a set palette it was added with some adjustments by Kramer the Bird.

Trivia

Raccoon Sam was the first one to "finish" a tile, however he's added much to it since posting it and therefore Shaw is actually the first one.

Like in the previous Iso Collab, there is a hidden "MFGG" in one of the squares.

There are six Marios, and seven Luigis, while only one Bowser, one Peach and four Yoshis (one being ridden by Mario). There are three Koopalings, as opposed to the lone Morton in the first collaboration. Oddly enough, Five of those Luigis appear to be falling off of something, or attempting to climb up.

Mario Gamer made the most squares of this collab by making twenty-seven squares, which is one fourth of the entire collab.

Collab #3: Mario Kart, Super Mario RPG, Games

Beginnings or lack therefore of

The third project's outline that changed during the course of three parts

SNF created the third iso and labeled it as a Mario Kart theme. Since this was before the second was completed, it caused an uproar which led to a discussion of the subject matter. The Mario Kart iso was closed without any entries. SNF later created a poll for the next collab which came out with Super Mario RPG. However, it's slow progress led to Citrus stepping up to make another iso from scratch, which was simply labeled games. The project's third iteration went underway on August 6th, 2006. While the theme was popular with most, it was criticized for being too broad. It proved successful until the later tiles, where it became less and less popular due to the way the project had become. Lack of quality control in some areas had made the project look a little shoddy and many games were unable to blend in well due to their settings. Many tiles also didn't try to break the grid. Several tiles were cut and others called in to replace them. The project was finally completed almost 16 months later on November 25th after some blending by Mario Gamer and Shadowman.

Trivia

Due to being completed over the course of three parts, this project has the biggest number of contributors out of the first three collaborations.

There has been had three different leaders over the course of the project, which are: Citrus, Shaw, and Dragmire.

This collaboration introduced "letter tiles". During the course of the three parts, the topic makers removed some of the tiles because of quality control. Because of that, some of the numbers of the tiles were lost, therefore making the topic makers have to rename them so members could say what tile they wanted.

The collab took four hundred seventy-seven days or one year, three months and twenty days to complete. Almost fourty-eight times longer then the first collab.

The 4th Collaboration's outline, Mario Gamer's old layout for the 3rd Collab

Collab #4: Yoshi's Island

Fast Beginnings

After a small debate between Super Mario Galaxy and Yoshi's Island (the latter winning), the project started on November 25th, 2007, the same day the third isometric collab was completed. The old layout was a previous version of the third collaboration, created by Mario Gamer. YoshbotX000 stepped up to lead the project. The project remained fairly popular until about slightly past halfway where it was lost and presumed dead in the depths of the CCC.

Revived

After around 20 months, Fender reposted the collab here with the promise to draw everyone who added at least one tile. 11 days later, on August 8th, 2009, the fourth isometric collab was finally complete.

Trivia

This collaboration took six hundred twenty-one days, or one year, nine months, and fifteen days to complete.

This is currently the slowest collaboration to be completed

There are seven Yoshis.

Sword was the first one to finish a tile, though it had been moved and edited.

Collab #5: Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga

Beginnings, and Revival

During and after completion of the fourth collab, the next one was decided to be M&L:SS. After a few early SMG designs from Mario Gamer, Jazz, now project manager, made the design himself and started the collab on August 9th, 2009. Only 2 weeks into the collaboration, progress came to a halt. About 11 months later, Jazz revived the unfinished collaboration after deleting a couple tiles that lacked quality. As motivation for participation, Jazz offered all who submit at least 2 tiles a forum event badge as an incentive. It was finally finished on September 13, 2010, after more than 13 months.

Trivia

This collaboration took three hundred ninety-two days, or one year, one month, and four days to complete.

This collab is the first one to have a tile with a different perspective.

Collab #7: Super Mario 3D Land / World

The seventh project, before it was scrapped.

The seventh collab was started at September 30, 2013 by Gatete and Mit. At one point, Gatete opened a poll about whenever they should start over or not, as the collab is a bit inactive at that time. Most of the people that voted in the poll didn't want the collab to start over, and therefore the collab is still going. After the poll ended, Q-Nova, Blutorus, Mors, and Willsaber have so far been the only contributors. Due to the collaboration's severe lack of activity, many have proposed that the project should be scrapped. On February 4, 2016, the project was officially scrapped, with the last eighteen tiles never implemented.

Trivia

This collab has the biggest amount of tiles, one-hundred-sixty tiles to be exact.

Collab #8: Luigi's World

A Triumphant Return

About four years since the last completed isometric collaboration, Pedigree pitched this collaboration to fellow MFGG members on August 4th, 2017. This collaboration had a smaller layout with a focus on Luigi and games he's starred in. VinnyVideo awarded the final list of contributors with Iso Collab Contributor badges on August 29th, 2017. Taking less than a month to complete, the last tile was submitted on August 31st, 2017.

With 15 contributors, this collaboration has the least contributors compared to any other completed collaboration.

This collaboration also has the least amount of tiles compared to any other completed collaboration.

Several members who had claimed tiles either cancelled them or never submitted, leading to the tiles being offered to other members to claim and complete.

Originally, a member's tiles (number 14 and 23) were minor edits of some copied and pasted Super Mario World graphics. The most widely criticized tiles, these were removed and replaced with Lovintendo's tiles, which he had made without claiming any tiles.

Mit's second set of tiles (number 24, 34 and 35) allowed for the creation of two additional tiles (A and B) and was the subject of some minor controversy, with it blocking the view of other tiles. This led to Kritter having to change his tile ideas for number 25 and 33. However, when Lovintendo's tiles were moved further up into the collaboration, Mit's set of tiles were allowed to be moved further down. Thus, these tiles no longer blocks other tiles.

Unofficial Collabs

In July 2006, there was also a minor collaboration "Unofficial Isometric Collaboration 1" Featuring Peanut Gardens. Started by Raccoon Sam This was never finished, and lies deep in the PPP. Several other unnofficial collabs have been started since, but these have proven even more unsuccessful.

The most successful Unofficial Collaboration was the Isometric Mr. T collab started by ShadowMan. This is because it was stickied in the PPP so that it wouldn't get lost, a problem most PPP collabs have.

A GameBoy isometric collaboration was started by Parakarry and an "awesome" one by Nova during November 2007. Neither collabs proved to be successful, although surprisingly the GameBoy one was more popular despite the "awesome" one being stickied in the CCC. The GameBoy collaboration thread can be found

In December 2009, Jazz created Sprite Competition #174 - "Isometric Collaboration Mini". The idea was to have many members create at least 3 tiles in their own mini isometric collaboration.